System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space

ABSTRACT

Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to providing virtual items to users of a virtualspace, and in particular providing offers to sell virtual items to usershaving an affiliation.

BACKGROUND

Providing virtual items in a game is known. Many online games, andapp-based games are free-to-play games which provide users theopportunity to enhance the game by purchasing one or more virtual itemswhich are usable in the online game. Oftentimes a player of the onlinegame will be provided the opportunity to purchase virtual currency inexchange for real world currency. Players may then exchange the realworld currency for virtual items within the online game.

It is also known to have one or more conditions set on the availabilityof the virtual items purchasable in an online game. For example, aplayer may have to have reached a particular level within the gamebefore being allowed to purchase certain virtual items.

SUMMARY

Until recently, the distribution of virtual items in a virtual spacehave been focused on the individual user of the virtual space. Limitsand conditions have been based on the individual virtual user's statusor level within the online game.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing virtual items to usersof an online, such the virtual items are only available to a first setof users after at least a threshold number of the first set of userssatisfy one or more conditions. Such conditions, for example, may bethat a threshold number of users have purchased, or committed topurchase, the virtual item in a virtual shop associated with a virtualspace. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to providing virtualitems that increase in potency with an increase in the number of usersof the set of users that satisfy one or more conditions. Suchconditions, for example, may be that the users have exchanged virtualcurrency for the virtual item, and each time a user from the set ofusers obtains the virtual item the potency of that virtual itemincreases, such that the users of the set of users who have purchasedthe virtual item receive the same higher potency virtual item.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system that provides virtualitems to users of a virtual space. The server(s) may be configured tocommunicate with one or more client computing platforms according to aclient/server architecture. The users of the system may access thesystem and/or a virtual space, (e.g., a virtual world, a game space, anonline game, etc.) via the client computing platforms. The system maycomprise one or more physical processors configured by machine-readableinstructions to facilitate participation by multiple users in an onlinegame through client computing platforms associated with the users.

Processors may be configured by machine-readable instructions to manageuser accounts, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users.The user accounts of the users may include indications of one or moreaffiliations having a functional significance between users. Forexample, the accounts of users may include a first user account for afirst user having an indication that the first user is associated with afirst affiliation, and may have a second user account for a second userhaving an indication that the second user is associated with the firstaffiliation.

The first user and the second user may be members of the sameaffiliation having a functional significance within the online game.Users belonging to an affiliation may have relationships with some or nofunctional significance, purpose, and/or impact within a given virtualspace. Such relationships within the affiliation may include aleadership structure, a role structure, and/or other relationshipswithin the affiliation. The functional significance of a relationshipbetween users may vary across different virtual spaces. For example, arelationship between the first user and the second user in the firstaffiliation within the first virtual space may have a differentfunctional significance than a relationship between the first user andthe second user in a second affiliation in a second virtual space. Byway of non-limiting example of the functional significance of anaffiliation within an exemplary virtual space, affiliates within avirtual space may have certain capabilities among each other that arenot available to non-affiliates such as obtaining, acquiring, sharingand/or trading goods, services, player characters, and/or items in thevirtual space; and/or other capabilities among users belonging to anaffiliation.

Processors may be configured by machine-readable instructions toeffectuate presentation of offers to sell virtual items to the users onthe client computing platforms associated with users. The processors maybe configured to facilitate selection and/or entry by the users of anacceptance of the offer. For example, a first offer to sell virtualitems may be presented to the first user and the second user, and thefirst user and the second user may select and/or enter their desire toaccept the first offer. The accounts of users may include a third useraccount for a third user having an indication that the third user isassociated with a second affiliation. Presentation of the first offer tosell virtual items to the third user may be effectuated. The first userand second user may be a member of a first affiliation, and the thirduser may be a member of a second, different, affiliation. Both the firstand second users, and the third user may be presented the same offer topurchase virtual items.

Processors may be configured by machine-readable instructions toeffectuate distribution of the virtual items to the users having one ormore affiliations in response to an indication that a threshold numberof users associated with one or more affiliations have accepted theoffer. For example, the virtual items associated with the first offermay be provided to the first user and the second user in response to anindication that a threshold number of users associated with the firstaffiliation, of which the first user and the second user are members,have accepted the first offer. The third user, being associated with asecond affiliation, different from the first affiliation, may notreceive the virtual items associated with the first offer, if athreshold number of members associated with the second affiliationfailed to accept the first offer.

The offers to sell virtual items may include an associated user cost,such that the first offer to sell virtual items includes a firstassociated user cost. Distributing virtual items to users of anaffiliation only when a threshold number of users have accepted thefirst offer, and having a user cost associated with the offer, willincrease revenue and encourage conversion of users through socialpressure to accept the offer, thereby increasing revenue for theprovider of the virtual space.

In some instances, when a threshold number of users of an affiliationhave failed to accept the offer to purchase virtual items, those userswho have accepted the offer in exchange for, say, virtual currency, mayforfeit the virtual currency exchanged. Forfeiting the virtual currencyincentivizes those users associated with an affiliation who haveaccepted the offer to pressure the users of an affiliation who have notaccepted the offer, to do so. In other instances, the users who haveaccepted the offer may not forfeit the virtual currency exchanged,either by receiving a refund of the virtual currency, or by it not beingtaken from accounts associated with the users until the occurrence of anevent determining that a threshold number of users of an affiliationhave, or have not, accepted the offer.

The amount of the associated user cost of the offer to sell virtualitems may vary with the amount of users having a common affiliation thataccept the offer, such that the first associated user cost for the firstoffer varies with the amount of users having the first affiliation whomaccept the first offer. In some implementations, the more users whoaccept the offer, the lower the associated user cost of the offer,thereby incentivizing users having a common affiliation to accept theoffer.

The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items mayhave one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided tousers. A benefit provided to users by one or more virtual items may bean increase in the user's and/or a user character's strength, power,skill, and/or abilities compared to other users of the virtual space.For example, a user may have one or more associated troop units with thebenefit provided to the user being a defensive benefit, an offensivebenefit, and/or other military benefits within the game. As anotherexample, a user may be one or more resource gathering units with thebenefit provided to the user being a resource gathering benefit, and/orother benefits provided within the game.

The benefit level associated with a benefit provided by the virtualitems of the offer to sell virtual items may vary with the amount ofusers having a common affiliation that have accepted the offer. Forexample, the virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items mayinclude a first benefit level associated with a first benefit providedto a first user. The first benefit level of the first offer may varywith the amount of users having the first affiliation whom accept thefirst offer. In some instances, the more users having a firstaffiliation that accept the offer, the higher the benefit level of thevirtual item associated with the offer. In such implementations, everytime a user from a first affiliation accepts an offer to purchase, say,troops, the number of troops received increases by a defined amount,such that all users of the first affiliation who have accepted the offerto purchase troops receive the increased number of troops. An increasein the number of troops may increase the benefit provided to the userwherein the benefit may be a defensive benefit, an offensive benefit,and/or other military benefits within the game. As another example,where the virtual item is a resource gathering unit, the greater thenumber of users of an affiliation that accept the offer the greater theability of the resource gathering to gather resources, therebyincreasing the benefit to the user.

Presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to the users on theclient computing platforms may be effectuated during a defined period,thereby giving users belonging to an affiliation a defined period oftime to accept the offer and secure it for their co-affiliation users.Individual ones of users of an affiliation may have control over theparameters of the defined period. Such individuals may be the owner,controller, leader or commander of the affiliation. For example, a firstuser having a first affiliation may define the period during whichpresentation of the offers to sell virtual items to users having thefirst affiliation is effectuated. Before the start of the period toaccept the virtual offer begins, the leader of the affiliation maynotify all members of the affiliation when period is scheduled to begin,thereby increasing the likelihood that the threshold number ofaffiliation members accept the offer, allowing the affiliation membersto benefit from accepting the offer.

Distribution of the virtual items associated with offers may beeffectuated to the users having one or more affiliations in response toan indication that the users of the one or more affiliations haveaccepted the offers at a defined rate of acceptance. For example, inorder to receive the virtual items, the offers may have to be acceptedat a rate of one per minute, ten per five minutes, one per ten seconds,etc., over a defined period of time.

The virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items may include a setof potential awards having a set of award probabilities. The system maystochastically or quasi-stochastically select a first potential awardfrom the set of potential awards as an actual award for distribution tousers who have accepted the offer. The set of potential awards mayinclude a desired award, such as a rare virtual item, or a virtual itemhaving a usually high associated user cost. The probability of selectingthe desired award as the actual award, for distribution to individualones of the users who have accepted the offer, may increase with thenumber of users of the first set of users who have accepted the offer.

These and other features and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system that provides virtual items to users of avirtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface presented to users on one or moreclient computing platforms.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface configured to facilitate providingoffers to sell virtual items to users, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for providing virtual items to multipleusers of a virtual space, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 that provides virtual items to users of avirtual space. Providing virtual items to users of an online game mayinclude providing the virtual items to a first set of users only afterat least a threshold number of a first set of users satisfy one or moreconditions. Such conditions, for example, may be that a threshold numberof users have purchased the virtual item in a virtual shop associatedwith a virtual space. Another aspect of the disclosure relates toproviding virtual items that increase in potency with an increase in thenumber of users of the set of users that satisfy one or more conditions.Such conditions, for example, may be that the users have exchangedvirtual currency for the virtual item, and each time a user from the setof users obtains the virtual item, the potency of that virtual itemincreases, such that all the users of the set of users who havepurchased the virtual item receive the same higher potency virtual item.

The virtual space may be hosted over a network. Providing the virtualspace may include hosting the virtual space over a network. In someimplementations, system 10 may include a server 12. The server 12 may beconfigured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms 14according to a client/server architecture. The users may access system10 and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms 14.

The server 12 may be configured to execute one or more computer programcomponents. The computer program components may include one or more of agame component 20, a user component 22, a relationship component 24, ashop component 26, a distribution component 28, an offer configurationcomponent 30, and/or other components.

The game component 20 may be configured to facilitate participation bymultiple users in an online game through client computing platforms 14associated with the users. The online game may be implemented within avirtual space. As used herein, virtual space and online game may besynonymous. The game component 20 may be configured to implement theinstance of the virtual space executed by the computer components todetermine state of the virtual space. The state may then be communicated(e.g., via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or otherstate information) from server 12 to client computing platforms 14 forpresentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a givenclient computing platform 16 may correspond to a view for a usercharacter being controlled by a user via the given client computingplatform 16. The state determined and transmitted to a given clientcomputing platform 16 may correspond to a location in the virtual space.The view described by the state for the given client computing platformmay correspond, for example, to the location from which the view istaken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations, a zoomratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or viewparameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may beselectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 14)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual spaceis determined by game component 20 is not intended to be limiting. Thegame component 20 may be configured to express the virtual space in amore limited or more rich, manner. For example, views determined for thevirtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtualspace may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an eventin a given place within the virtual space. The views may includeadditional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/orother content) that describes particulars of the current state of theplace, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view mayinclude a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by game component20, users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As usedherein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group ofobjects) present in the virtual space that represents an individualuser. The user character may be controlled by the user with which it isassociated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interactwith the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space,other objects in the virtual space). The user controlled elementscontrolled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/orcustomized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” ofvirtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., bymanipulation of a user character or other user controlled element,and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space bycontrolling one or more of the available user controlled elements in thevirtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/orcommands input by the users through client computing platforms 14. Theusers may interact with each other through communications exchangedwithin the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more oftextual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications,and/or other communications. Communications may be received and enteredby the users via their respective client computing platforms 14.Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users throughserver 12 (e.g., through game component 20).

The instance of the virtual space and/or the game that takes placetherein may be persistent. That is, the virtual space and/or the gamemay continue on whether or not individual players are currently loggedin and/or participating in the game. A user and/or player that logs outof the virtual space and then logs back in some time later may find thevirtual space has been changed through the interactions of other playerswith the virtual space during the time the user and/or player was loggedout. These changes may include changes to the simulated physical space,changes in the player's inventory, changes in other player'sinventories, changes experienced by non-player characters, and/or otherchanges.

Processors may be configured by machine-readable instructions to manageuser accounts, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users.For example, user component 22 may be configured to manage useraccounts, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users. Theuser accounts of the users may include indications of one or moreaffiliations having a functional significance between users. Forexample, the accounts of users may include a first user account for afirst user having an indication that the first user is associated with afirst affiliation, and may have a second user account for a second userhaving an indication that the second user is associated with the firstaffiliation.

The user component 22 may be configured to access and/or manage one ormore user profiles and/or user information associated with users of thesystem 12. The one or more user profiles and/or user information mayinclude information stored by server 12, one or more of the clientcomputing platforms 14, and/or other storage locations. The userprofiles may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g.,a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifyinginformation) within the virtual space, security login information (e.g.,a login code or password), virtual space account information,subscription information, virtual currency account information (e.g.,related to currency held in credit for a user), relationship information(e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtualspace), virtual space usage information, demographic informationassociated with users, interaction history among users in the virtualspace, information stated by users, purchase information of users,browsing history of users, a client computing platform identificationassociated with a user, a phone number associated with a user, and/orother information related to users.

An interaction component and/or the user component 22, may be configuredto monitor interactions of the users with the virtual space and/or eachother within the virtual space. This may include monitoring for a givenuser, one or more of times at which the given user is logged in to thevirtual space, areas of the virtual space the given user views orinteracts with or in, other users the given user interacts with, thenature and/or content of interactions of the given user with otherusers, activities participated in within the virtual space, level,powers, or skill attained in the virtual space, inventory items obtainedin the virtual space, and/or other interactions of the given user withthe virtual space and/or other users. Some or all of the informationgenerated by interaction component in monitoring the interactions of theusers may be stored to the user profiles managed by user component.

At a given time, the interaction component may determine a set of usersthat are currently engaged with the virtual space and/or a set of usersthat are currently not engaged with the virtual space. Being engagedwith the virtual space may refer to being logged in to the virtualspace, performing some action or interaction within the virtual spacewithin some period of time (e.g., the last 2 minutes), and/or othertaking some other action indicating ongoing and contemporaneousengagement with the virtual space.

The interaction component may be configured to determine, for individualusers, an activity metric that indicates an activity level within thevirtual space. The activity metric may be determined based on one ormore of log in frequency, amount of time logged in to the virtual spacewithin a rolling time period (e.g., over the last day, week, month, orother rolling time period), average amount of time logged in to thevirtual space over some length of time (e.g., per day, per week, and/orother length of time), average log in session time over a rolling timeperiod, number of inter-user communications over a length of time,number of inter-user communications per log in, number of relationshipswith other users in the virtual space, number of new relationships withother users in the virtual space within a rolling time period, amount ofreal world money spent in the virtual space and/or other activityparameters.

The relationship component 24 may be configured to establishrelationships and/or affiliations between users within the virtualspace. Such affiliations may include one or more of friendships, guilds(with guild-mates), alliances, connections, followers, and/or otherrelationships. The relationship component 24 may establish relationshipsbased on relationship requests and acceptances received from users.Establishment of an affiliation may be initiated by a singlecommunication (e.g., a request) initiated by a given user requesting anaffiliation between the given user and one or more other users.Establishment of an affiliation may require a first communication fromthe given user to be approved by the one or more other users.Affiliations may include one or more types of affiliations that have afunctional purpose or impact within the virtual space, and/or one ormore types of affiliations that a social construct within the virtualspace that does not have a functional result.

The user accounts of the users may include indications of one or moreaffiliations having a functional significance between users. Forexample, the accounts of users may include a first user account for afirst user having an indication that the first user is associated with afirst affiliation, and may have a second user account for a second userhaving an indication that the second user is associated with the firstaffiliation.

The first user and the second user may be members of the sameaffiliation having a functional significance within the online game.Users belonging to an affiliation may have relationships with some or nofunctional significance, purpose, and/or impact within a given virtualspace. Such relationships within the affiliation may include aleadership structure, a role structure, and/or other relationshipswithin the affiliation. The functional significance of an affiliationand/or relationship between users may vary across different virtualspaces. For example, a relationship between the first user and thesecond user in the first affiliation within the first virtual space mayhave a different functional significance than a relationship between thefirst user and the second user in a second affiliation in a secondvirtual space. By way of non-limiting example of the functionalsignificance of an affiliation within an exemplary virtual space,affiliates within a virtual space may have certain capabilities amongeach other that are not available to non-affiliates such as obtaining,acquiring, sharing, and/or trading goods, services, player characters,and/or items in the virtual space; and/or other capabilities among usersbelonging to an affiliation.

The shop component 26 may be configured to effectuate presentation ofoffers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computingplatforms associated with users. The shop component 26 may be configuredto facilitate selection and/or entry by the users of an acceptance ofthe offer.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface 40 presented to users on one or moreclient computing platforms 14 (as shown in FIG. 1). The shop component26 may be configured to cause the user interface 40 to facilitate thepresentation of views of a virtual shop 42 to users of the virtualspace. The user interface 40 may provide a representation of an onlinegame to the user. Within the representation of the online game a usermay cause entry and/or selection of an indication of a desire to enterthe virtual shop interface 42. In response to an interaction by the userof the online game, the shop component 26 may be configured toeffectuate presentation of a shop interface 42 to users in conjunctionwith presentation of views of the online game, wherein the shopinterface 42 is configured to facilitate presentations to users ofoffers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computingplatforms 14 associated with the users, wherein the virtual items areusable within the game. The presentation to users of an offer to sellvirtual items may comprise an indication of the virtual item associatedwith the offer and an indication of the associated user cost, such thata first offer 60 to sell virtual items includes a first associated usercost 62, and a second offer 66 includes a second associated user cost68. The associated user cost, may be an amount of virtual currency, realcurrency, one or more virtual items, and/or other items available to theuser to exchange for the offer. Virtual currency may take any form, forexample, virtual currency may be in the form of gems, stones, metals,credits, dollars, and/or any other representation of a virtual currency.

A first offer 60 to sell virtual items may be presented to the firstuser and the second user through the shop interface 40, and the firstuser and the second user may select and/or enter their desire to acceptthe first offer 60 in exchange for an associated user cost 62. Theaccounts of users may include a third user account for a third userhaving an indication that the third user is associated with a secondaffiliation. Presentation of the first offer 60 to sell virtual items tothe third user may be effectuated through the shop interface 42. Thefirst user and second user may be a member of a first affiliation, andthe third user may be a member of a second affiliation different fromthe first affiliation. All of the users may be presented the same offerto purchase virtual items, such that the first and second users, and thethird user may be presented the first offer 60 to purchase virtualitems. The first and second users, and the third user may be presentedthe first offer 60 having a first associated user cost 62,alternatively, the first and second users may be presented the firstoffer 60 having a first associated user cost 62, and the third user maybe presented the first offer 60 having a different associated user cost.

The distribution component 28 may be configured to effectuatedistribution of the virtual items of the selected offer to the usershaving one or more affiliations in response to an indication that athreshold number of users associated with one or more affiliations haveaccepted the offer. For example, the virtual items associated with thefirst offer 60 may be provided to the first user and the second user inresponse to an indication that a threshold number of users associatedwith the first affiliation, of which the first user and the second userare members, have accepted the first offer 60. The third user, beingassociated with a second affiliation, different from the firstaffiliation, may not receive the virtual items associated with the firstoffer 60, if a threshold number of members associated with the secondaffiliation failed to accept the first offer.

Distributing virtual items to users of an affiliation only when athreshold number of users have accepted the first offer, and having auser cost associated with the offer, will increase revenue and encourageconversion of users through social pressure to accept the offer, therebyincreasing revenue for the provider of the virtual space.

A threshold number of members of an affiliation may be a specifiednumber of users of an affiliation, a percentage of members of theaffiliation, a specified number of a particular sub-class of users, arate of acceptance by users in an affiliation, and/or other numbers ofusers within the affiliation. Sub-classes of users within an affiliationmay be users that are leaders, members with a particular role, and/orother relationship within the affiliation. A rate of acceptance by usersof an offer may include a requirement that users of an affiliationaccept offers at a defined rate, such as 10 per minute, 100 per hour, orother rate of acceptance.

Distribution of the virtual items associated with offers may beeffectuated to the users having one or more affiliations in response toan indication that the users of the one or more affiliations haveaccepted the offers at a defined rate of acceptance. For example, inorder to receive the virtual items, the offers may have to be acceptedat a rate of one per minute, ten per five minutes, one per ten seconds,etc., over a defined period of time.

The presentation of offers to sell virtual items to users on clientcomputing platforms 14 associated with users may include a notificationof the threshold number of users having an affiliation required toaccept the offer before the virtual items associated with the offer aredistributed to the users. Such that a first user, having a firstaffiliation, is offered a first offer 60 to sell virtual items thatincludes a threshold indication 64 notifying the first user of thethreshold number of users having the first affiliation that are requiredto accept the first offer 60 before the virtual items associated withthe first offer 60 are distributed to the users.

In some instances, when a threshold number of users of an affiliationhave failed to accept the offer to purchase virtual items, those userswho have accepted the offer in exchange for, say, virtual currency, mayforfeit the virtual currency exchanged. Forfeiting the virtual currencyincentivizes those users associated with an affiliation who haveaccepted the offer to pressure the users of an affiliation who have notaccepted the offer to do so. In other instances, the users who haveaccepted the offer may not forfeit the virtual currency exchanged,either by receiving a refund of the virtual currency, or by it not beingtaken from accounts associated with the users until the occurrence of anevent determining that a threshold number of users of an affiliationhave, or have not, accepted the offer.

The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items maybe distributed to only those users having an affiliation who haveaccepted the offer. The virtual items associated with the offers to sellvirtual items may be distributed to all users having an affiliation uponan indication that the threshold has been satisfied.

The amount of the associated user cost of the offer to sell virtualitems may vary with the amount of users having a common affiliation thataccept the offer, such that the first associated user cost 62 for thefirst offer 60 may vary with the amount of users having the firstaffiliation whom accept the first offer 60. In some implementations, themore users who accept the offer, the lower the associated user cost ofthe offer, thereby incentivizing users having a common affiliation toaccept the offer. For example, each time a set of users comprising oneor more users having a first affiliation accept the first offer 60 thefirst associated user cost 62 may reduce. In such implementations, userswho have accepted the offer at the higher associated user cost may, ormay not, receive the offer at the reduced associated user cost, asdesired by the provider of the virtual space.

Within the presentation of the virtual shop interface 42, userinformation may be provided such a representation of the user's avatar44 and/or identifying information 46 of the user which may include oneor more attributes and/or game play metrics 48 of the user. For example,one or more attributes and/or game play metrics 48 of the user maycomprise an indication of the amount of virtual currency held in creditfor the user, an indication of the inventory of the user, an indicationof levels of one or more parameters of the user, such as strength,speed, skill, power, special abilities and/or other parameters. The shopinterface 42 may comprise one or more tabs. Tabs may be panels, views,control buttons, and/or other graphical representation of one or moregroupings within the virtual shop. One tab may be a virtual currency tab54 indicating that the user may obtain virtual currency for using in theonline game. Other tabs may include a virtual items tab 56 indicatingoffers to sell virtual items to users wherein the virtual items areusable in the online game by the user. Virtual items usable in theonline game may be broken down further by category or type, such asweapons, tools, clothing, food, resources, buildings, and/or othervirtual item categories within the virtual space and/or online game.Another tab may be an inventory tab 58 providing an indication of thevirtual items the user has in their inventory. An inventory associatedwith a user may be stored in a user account for the user managed by theuser component 22. When the shop component 28 is causing the virtualshop interface 42 to present offers to users to sell virtual currency inexchange for consideration, wherein the consideration is an amount ofreal currency, the shop component 26 may be supported by an e-commercecomponent configured to facilitate obtaining real world currency fromthe users for the online game provider.

The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items mayhave one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided tousers. A benefit provided to users by one or more virtual items may bean increase in the user's and/or a user character's strength, power,skill, and/or abilities compared to other users of the virtual space.For example, a user may have one or more associated troop units with thebenefit provided to the user being a defensive benefit, an offensivebenefit, and/or other military benefits within the game. As anotherexample, a user may be one or more resource gathering units with thebenefit provided to the user being a resource gathering benefit, and/orother benefits provided within the game.

The benefit level associated with a benefit provided by the virtualitems of the offer to sell virtual items may vary with the amount ofusers having a common affiliation that have accepted the offer. Thevirtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items may include afirst benefit level associated with a first benefit provided to a firstuser. The first benefit level of the first offer may vary with theamount of users having the first affiliation whom accept the firstoffer. In some instances, the more users having a first affiliation thataccept the offer, the higher the benefit level of the virtual itemassociated with the offer. In such implementations, everytime a userfrom a first affiliation accepts an offer to purchase, say, troops, thenumber of troops received increases by a defined amount, such that allusers of the first affiliation who have accepted the offer to purchasetroops receive the increased number of troops. An increase in the numberof troops may increase the benefit provided to the user, wherein thebenefit may be a defensive benefit, an offensive benefit, and/or othermilitary benefits within the game. As another example, where the virtualitem is a resource gathering unit, the greater the number of users of anaffiliation that accept the offer the greater the ability of theresource gathering to gather resources, thereby increasing the benefitto the user.

With reference to FIG. 2, the shop component 26 may be configured tocause the shop interface 42 to present a second offer 66 to sell virtualitems having a second associated user cost 68 and a benefit levelindication 70 associated with the virtual items of the second offer 70.The benefit level indication 70 may provide an indication to the firstuser and second user of a benefit level provided by the virtual itemsfor the first and second users in the virtual space. The benefit levelindication 70 may provide an indication to the first user and the seconduser of an increased benefit provided to the users in the virtual spaceshould the first or second user accept the second offer 66. In responseto the first user accepting the second offer 66, the shop component 26may be configured to cause the benefit level notification 70 to updateto indicate to the second user an increased benefit provided to theusers in the virtual space should the second user accept the secondoffer 66.

Presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to the users on theclient computing platforms may be effectuated during a defined period,thereby giving users belonging to an affiliation a defined period oftime to accept the offer and secure it for their co-affiliation users.Individual ones of users of an affiliation may have relationships withsome or no functional significance, purpose, and/or impact within agiven virtual space. Such relationships within the affiliation mayinclude a leadership structure, a role structure, and/or otherrelationships within the affiliation. Individual ones of such users mayhave control over the parameters of the defined period that the offersto sell virtual items are presented to users having an affiliation. Suchindividual users may be the owner, controller, leader, commander, and/orhave another position within the affiliation. A first user having afirst affiliation and a first relationship within the first affiliationmay define the period of time during which presentation of the offers tosell virtual items to users having the first affiliation is effectuated.Before the start of the period to accept the virtual offers begins, thefirst user may notify all other members of the affiliation when theperiod is scheduled to begin and end, thereby incentivizing users havingthe affiliation to access the virtual space and the virtual shopinterface 42 during that period. As a result the likelihood that athreshold number of affiliation members accept the offer is increased,thereby allowing the affiliation members to benefit from the offer.

The shop component 26 may be configured to effectuate presentation tousers of a notification of the period during which the offer to sellvirtual items must be accepted in order to receive the virtual itemsassociated with the offer. Other components may facilitate thenotification of users that such a period to accept an offer has beenarranged, is pending, and/or has ended.

Allowing a user having an affiliation to control the period that theoffer is available to the users belonging to the affiliation impartscontrol and structure into the affiliation, thereby increasing thesocial pressure on users of the affiliation to accept the offer andthereby increase revenue for the provider of the virtual space.

The virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items may include a setof potential awards having a set of award probabilities. The system maystochastically or quasi-stochastically select a first potential awardfrom the set of potential awards as an actual award for distribution tousers who have accepted the offer. The set of potential awards mayinclude a desired award, such as a rare virtual item, or a virtual itemhaving a usually high associated user cost. The probability of selectingthe desired award as the actual award, for distribution to individualones of the users who have accepted the offer, may increase with thenumber of users of the first set of users who have accepted the offer.

The shop component 26 may be configured to effectuate presentation of aset of potential awards associated with an offer to sell virtual items.Within the set of potential awards there may be virtual items which havevarying degrees of variability. For example, one of the virtual itemsmay be a rare item providing a benefit to users of the online game.Another item may be a common virtual item that is easily obtained byusers without having to make purchases through the virtual shopinterface 42. By accepting the offer, users may increase the probabilitythat they will receive the rare virtual item and decrease theprobability that they will receive the common virtual item. Each time auser having an affiliation accepts the offer, the probability ofreceiving the rare virtual item may increase for all members of theaffiliation who have accepted the offer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface 80 configured to facilitateproviding offers 88 to sell virtual items to users. The offer 88 to sellvirtual items is presented to users through a communication interface 82configured to facilitate communication between users of a virtual space.Such communication interface 80 may comprise separate communicationtabs, a general communication tab 84 and an affiliation communicationtab 86. When the user interacts with the interface 80 to select thegeneral communication tab 84, the user may communicate with all users ofthe virtual space. When the user interacts with the interface 80 toselect the affiliation communication tab 86, the user may communicateonly with users associated with that affiliation.

An offer 88 to sell virtual items to users having a common affiliationmay be presented through the affiliation communication chat interface 82associated with that common affiliation. The communications interface 80may be configured to allow users having the common affiliation to acceptthe offer through the communications interface 80 by interacting withthe communications interface 80 indicating a desire to accept the offer.The communications interface 80 may be configured to allow users havinga common affiliation to interface with the communications interface 80indicating that the users desire to accept the offer and the shopcomponent 26 may be configured to effectuate presentation of the shopinterface 42 to the users.

The offer configuration component 30 may be configured to facilitate theentry and/or selection of parameters associated with the offers to sellvirtual items to multiple users of system 10. Such parameters mayinclude an indication of the identity of the virtual items to beoffered, an associated user cost for the offer, a threshold number ofusers required to accept the offer before the associated virtual itemsare distributed to the users, the type of threshold (e.g., a percentage,a number, a subset of users), a time period during which the offer maybe offered, a required rate of acceptance, an indication whether a userhaving an affiliation may determine one or more parameters of the offer,an indication of where in the virtual space the offer will be presentedto users having an affiliation, and/or other parameters associated withthe affiliation.

The server 12, client computing platforms 14, and/or external resources32 may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communicationlinks. For example, such electronic communication links may beestablished, at least in part, via a network such as the Internet and/orother networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to belimiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementationsin which servers 12, client computing platforms 14, and/or externalresources 32 may be operatively linked via some other communicationmedia.

A given client computing platform 14 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program components. The computer programcomponents may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 14 to interface with system 10and/or external resources 32, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platforms 14. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 14 may includeone or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources 32 may include sources of information, hostsand/or providers of virtual environments outside of system 10, externalentities participating with system 10, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 32 may be provided by resources included in system10.

The server 12 may include electronic storage 34, one or more processors16 and/or other components. The server 12 may include communicationlines or ports to enable the exchange of information with a networkand/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 12 in FIG. 1 isnot intended to be limiting. The server 12 may include a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to server 12. For example,server 12 may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operatingtogether as server 12.

Electronic storage 34 may comprise electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 34 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 12 via,for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive(e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 34 may include one ormore of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronicstorage 34 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g.,cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 34 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 16, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms 14, and/orother information that enables server 12 to function as describedherein.

Processor(s) 16 is configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 12. As such, processor 16 may include one or moreof a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designedto process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 16 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 16 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor 16 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor 16 may beconfigured to execute components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or othercomponents. Processor 16 may be configured to execute components 20, 22,24, 26, 28, 30, and/or other components by software; hardware; firmware;some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 16.

It should be appreciated that although components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in implementations in which processor 16 includes multipleprocessing units, one or more of components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30,and/or other components may be located remotely from the othercomponents. The description of the functionality provided by thedifferent components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or other componentsdescribed below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to belimiting, as any of components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or othercomponents may provide more or less functionality than is described. Forexample, one or more of components 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or othercomponents may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality maybe provided by other ones of 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or othercomponents. As another example, processor 16 may be configured toexecute one or more additional components that may perform some or allof the functionality attributed herein to one of components 20, 22, 24,26, 28, 30, and/or other components.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 90 of providing virtual items to users of avirtual space. The operations of method 90 presented below are intendedto be illustrative. In some embodiments, method 90 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in whichthe operations of method 90 are illustrated in FIG. 4 and describedbelow is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 90 may be implemented in one or morephysical processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analogprocessor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analogcircuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 90 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 90.

At an operation 92, participation by multiple users in an online game isfacilitated through client computing platforms associated with theusers. Such operations may be performed by a game component, such asgame component 20, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 94, user accounts are managed wherein the user accountsare associated with the users and include indications of one or moreaffiliations having a functional significance between users, such thatthe accounts of users include a first user account for a first userhaving an indication that the first user is associated with a firstaffiliation, and a second user account for a second user having anindication that the second user is associated with the firstaffiliation. The accounts of users may include a third user account fora third user having an indication that the third user is associated witha second affiliation. Such operations may be performed by a usercomponent, such as user component 22, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 96, a presentation of offers to sell virtual items tousers on the client computing platforms may be effectuated. At anoperation 96 selection and/or entry by the users of an acceptance of theoffer may be facilitated, such that a first offer to sell virtual itemsis presented to the first user and the second user. Presentation of thefirst offer to sell virtual items to the third user may be effectuated.Presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to the users on theclient computing platforms during a defined period may be effectuated.Such operations may be performed by a shop component, such as shopcomponent 26, in accordance with one or more implementations.

The offers to sell virtual items include an associated user cost, suchthat the first offer to sell virtual items includes a first associateduser cost. The amount of the associated user cost of the offer to sellvirtual items varies with the amount of users having a commonaffiliation that accept the offer, such that the first associated usercost for the first offer varies with the amount of users having thefirst affiliation whom accept the first offer.

The virtual items of the offers to sell virtual items has one or morebenefit levels associated with a benefit provided to users, such thatthe virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items includes afirst benefit level associated with the first benefit provided to user.The benefit level associated with a benefit provided by the virtualitems of the offer to sell virtual items varies with the amount of usershaving a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the firstbenefit level of the first offer varies with the amount of users havingthe first affiliation whom accept the first offer.

The virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items includes a set ofpotential awards having a set of award probabilities, and wherein theone or more physical processors is configured to stochastically orquasi-stochastically select a first potential award from the set ofpotential awards as an actual award for distribution to users who haveaccepted the offer. The set of potential awards includes a desired awardwherein the probability of selecting the desired award as the actualaward, for distribution to individual ones of the users who haveaccepted the offer, increases with the number of users of the first setof users who have accepted the offer.

At an operation 98, a determination of whether an offer expiration eventhas occurred is made. Such an offer expiration event may be expirationof the period of time that the offer is made available to the usershaving an affiliation, a failure to comply with the thresholdrequirements of the offer, and/or other offer expiration events. Suchoperations may be performed by a distribution component, such asdistribution component 28, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 100, a determination of whether a threshold number ofusers having an affiliation have accepted an offer is made. Suchoperations may be performed by a distribution component, such asdistribution component 28, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 102, in response to a determination that a thresholdnumber of users having an affiliation have accepted the offer,distribution of the virtual items to the users having one or moreaffiliations in response to an indication, at operation 100, that athreshold number of users associated with one or more affiliations haveaccepted the offer is made, such that the virtual items associated withthe first offer are provided to the first user and the second user inresponse to an indication that a threshold number of users associatedwith the first affiliation have accepted the first offer. Distributionof the virtual items of the offers to the users having one or moreaffiliations may be effectuated in response to an indication that theusers of the one or more affiliations have accepted the offers at adefined rate of acceptance. Such operations may be performed by adistribution component, such as distribution component 28, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

At other operations, control by individual ones of users having anaffiliation of the parameters of the defined period may be facilitated,such that the first user having the first affiliation defines the periodduring which presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to usershaving the first affiliation is effectuated.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system that provides virtual items to users ofan online game, the system comprising: electronic storage configured toelectronically store information, wherein the stored informationincludes information indicating one or more affiliations having afunctional significance between one or more of the users of the onlinegame, wherein the one or more affiliations include a first affiliationassociated with a first user and a second user; and one or more physicalprocessors configured by machine-readable instructions to: execute, by agame component, an instance of the online game; generate game stateinformation that is transmitted to client computing platforms over anetwork, the game state information facilitating presentation of viewsof the online game to the users via the client computing platforms,wherein the client computing platforms include user interfaces and areassociated with the users; maintain user accounts, the user accountsincluding user inventories, wherein the user accounts are associatedwith the users, wherein the user accounts include a first user accountassociated with the first user and a second user account associated withthe second user, wherein the first user account includes a first userinventory, wherein the second user account includes a second userinventory; cause presentation on the user interfaces of the clientcomputing platforms of offers to sell virtual items to the users suchthat a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to at least thefirst user and the second user, wherein the first offer is associatedwith parameters that are included in the presentation, wherein theparameters include: (i) a first set of virtual items that are offeredfor sale, and (ii) a first associated user cost to be exchanged byindividual ones of the users that accept the first offer; receive,through the user interfaces included in the client computing platforms,one or more user inputs indicating one or more acceptances of the offersby one or more of the users, including receiving a first user inputindicating acceptance of the first offer by the first user and a seconduser input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the second user;determine, by a distribution component, whether the number of the users,associated with the first affiliation, that have accepted the firstoffer meets a threshold number of acceptances; responsive to receivingat least the threshold number of acceptances, cause a secondpresentation on the user interfaces of the client computing platforms ofadjusted offers to sell the virtual items to the users such that anadjusted first offer to sell the virtual items is presented to at leastthe first user and the second user, wherein the adjusted first offer isassociated with adjusted parameters that are included in the secondpresentation, wherein the adjusted parameters include: (i) an adjustedfirst set of virtual items that are offered for sale, wherein theadjusted first set of virtual items includes the first set of virtualitems increased by one or more additional virtual items that wereformerly not included in the first set of virtual items, and (ii) thefirst associated user cost to be exchanged by the individual ones of theusers that accept the adjusted first offer; and distribute, by thedistribution component, the virtual items to the users, whereindistribution of the virtual items includes: (i) responsive to receivingan acceptance of the adjusted first offer, distributing the virtualitems in accordance with the adjusted first offer, and else, (ii)responsive to receiving an acceptance of the first offer, distributingthe virtual items in accordance with the first offer.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the user accounts further include a third user accountfor a third user including information indicating that the third user isassociated with a second affiliation, and wherein the one or morephysical processors are configured by machine-readable instructions tocause presentation of the first offer to sell virtual items to the thirduser.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein an individual parameter of theparameters of the first offer includes the first associated user cost,such that the first associated user cost is reduced responsive to thenumber of the users that are associated with the first affiliation andthat have accepted the first offer meeting the threshold number ofacceptances.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the offers to sellvirtual items to the users on the client computing platforms areavailable during a defined period, wherein individual ones of the usersassociated with an affiliation control the parameters of the definedperiod, such that the first user associated with the first affiliationdefines the period during which the offers to sell virtual items tousers associated with the first affiliation are available.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the functional significance of individual ones ofthe one or more affiliations include one or more capabilities availableto individual users by virtue of being part of the individual ones ofthe one or more affiliations, wherein the one or more capabilities arenot available to other users that are not part of the individual ones ofthe one or more affiliations.
 6. A method for providing virtual items tousers of an online game, the method performed by a computer system thatincludes one or more physical processors, the method comprising: storinginformation electronically, wherein the stored information includesinformation indicating one or more affiliations having a functionalsignificance between one or more of the users of the online game,wherein the one or more affiliations include a first affiliationassociated with a first user and a second user; executing, by a gamecomponent, an instance of the online game; generating game stateinformation that is transmitted to client computing platforms over anetwork, the game state information facilitating presentation of viewsof the online game to the users via the client computing platforms,wherein the client computing platforms include user interfaces and areassociated with the users; maintaining, by the one or more physicalprocessors, user accounts, the user accounts including user inventories,wherein the user accounts are associated with the users, wherein theuser accounts include a first user account associated with the firstuser and a second user account associated with the second user, whereinthe first user account includes a first user inventory, wherein thesecond user account includes a second user inventory; causing, by theone or more physical processors, presentation on the user interfacesincluded in the client computing platforms of offers to sell virtualitems to the users such that a first offer to sell virtual items ispresented to at least the first user and the second user, wherein thefirst offer is associated with parameters that are included in thepresentation, wherein the parameters include: (i) a first set of virtualitems that are offered for sale, and (ii) a first associated user costto be exchanged by individual ones of the users that accept the firstoffer; receiving, through the user interfaces included in the clientcomputing platforms, one or more user inputs indicating one or moreacceptances of the offers by one or more of the users, includingreceiving a first user input indicating acceptance of the first offer bythe first user and a second user input indicating acceptance of thefirst offer by the second user; determining, by a distributioncomponent, whether the number of the users, associated with the firstaffiliation, that have accepted the first offer meets the thresholdnumber of acceptances; responsive to receiving at least the thresholdnumber of acceptances, causing a second presentation on the userinterfaces of the client computing platforms of adjusted offers to sellthe virtual items to the users such that an adjusted first offer to sellthe virtual items is presented to at least the first user and the seconduser, wherein the adjusted first offer is associated with adjustedparameters that are included in the second presentation, wherein theadjusted parameters include: (i) an adjusted first set of virtual itemsthat are offered for sale, wherein the adjusted first set of virtualitems includes the first set of virtual items increased by one or moreadditional virtual items that were formerly not included in the firstset of virtual items, and (ii) the first associated user cost to beexchanged by the individual ones of the users that accept the adjustedfirst offer; and distributing, by the distribution component, thevirtual items to the users, wherein distribution of the virtual itemsincludes: (i) responsive to receiving an acceptance of the adjustedfirst offer, distributing the virtual items in accordance with theadjusted first offer, and else, (ii) responsive to receiving anacceptance of the first offer, distributing the virtual items inaccordance with the first offer.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein theuser accounts further include a third user account for a third userincluding information indicating that the third user is associated witha second affiliation, and where the one or more physical processors areconfigured by machine-readable instructions to cause presentation of thefirst offer to sell virtual items to the third user.
 8. The method ofclaim 6, wherein an individual parameter of the parameters of the firstoffer includes the first associated user cost, such that the firstassociated user cost is reduced responsive to the number of the usersthat are associated with the first affiliation and that have acceptedthe first offer meeting the threshold number of acceptances.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the offers to sell virtual items to the userson the client computing platforms are available during a defined period,the method further comprising: receiving parameters of the definedperiod from individual ones of users associated with one or more of theaffiliations, such that the first user associated with the firstaffiliation defines the period during which the offers to sell virtualitems to users associated with the first affiliation are available. 10.The method of claim 6, wherein the functional significance of individualones of the one or more affiliations include one or more capabilitiesavailable to individual users by virtue of being part of the individualones of the one or more affiliations, wherein the one or morecapabilities are not available to other users that are not part of theindividual ones of the one or more affiliations.